Bellefonte battles but falls in extras to St. Mary’s

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: May 30, 2024

By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – They fought until the last out!

The season ended for the Bellefonte softball team Thursday night as the Lady Raiders and St. Mary’s team went into the eighth inning until the game would be decided.

It would be an RBI single by the Lady Dutch’s Kalynn Eozzo that would be the game winner in the top of the eighth.

“I’m very proud of the year they had. They battled through a lot,” said Bellefonte coach Erica DeVinney. “They had great bats and our defense was really strong. We just didn’t get the hits when we needed them.”

Despite getting a runner on in the bottom of the inning, the Red Raiders fell 2-1.

Bellefonte sent hurler Carley Clarkson to the circle to go up against the Flying Dutch’s Avery Eckels.

It would be quite the pitching duel from beginning to end.

Bellefonte came in with a record of 14-5 while St. Mary’s spotted an impressive 16-2.

Neither team were able to muster a run in the first inning.

Despite a hit from St. Mary’s batter Kelsey Fledderman, the Lady Raiders held strong, keeping the game a scoreless one after two complete innings.

Jaylee Lose broke the scoreless tie with a blast that hit the foul pole for a solo shot.

In the third, Bellefonte once again sent the Flying Dutch back onto the field without a run. Clarkson sent St. Mary’s down 1-2-3.

The Red Raider defense limited St. Mary’s to a single by Eckels before ending the fourth inning.

Bellefonte got a runner on in the bottom of the inning looking to add to their lead. Regan Manning was hit by an Eckels offering. But she was left stranded at first with the Lady Raiders clinging to a 1-0 advantage.

The Flying Dutch were grounded in the fifth as Clarkson set them down again 1-2-3.

Lose opened up the fifth with an opposite field liner to right. She was replaced by courtesy runner Alaina Smith.

Maddison Ripka moved Smith over and she reached base as well on a St. Mary’s miscue.

It didn’t take long defensively for the Lady Flying Dutch recover, holding onto a scoreless fifth for the Red Raiders.

Kalynn Eozzo tied the contest at one with a solo shot that cleared the centerfield fence, setting the stage for the drama that would occur final inning.

Second baseman Grace Novitsky got Bellefonte’s six inning off and running with a single into left. But again, Eckels would shut down the potential rally.

Both bats went silent in the seventh, sending the game into extra innings.

Eozzo came up clutch once again in the final stanza, plating teammate Zoe Romanic, taking the lead en route to the victory.